Item No. 6(c)
Date:29 March 2015
Report:Surrey Hills Society
Written by:Chris Howard, Chairman
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Purpose of Report
To report on the activities of the Surrey Hills Society(February – April 2015)
Summary
The Surrey Hills Society continues in its main role of promoting and engaging with the public and raising awareness of the issues facing the AONB. This report covers the quieter late winter, early Spring time which is traditionally a quieter period for us. However, it has been a busy time for the Committee working with Surrey Hills Enterprises to create the new Surrey Hills website.
The SHS Strategy
The Society continues to support the work of Surrey Countryside Rural Enterprise Forum (SCREF), particularly focusing on the Food &Drink and the Visitor Economy working Groups.
Having signed off the Surrey Hills Society Business Plan, we have now met at the end of January to start developing the accompanying Action Plan.
Core Funding and staffing
No update.
Communications and Publicity
The Summer edition of the newsletter is just being put together by the Society and will be distributed at the beginning of May. The distribution via the library service is working well, however we have had reports that the newsletters have gone within a couple of days of being displayed indicating we may need to increase our print run…with its costs implications.
I continue to write my Surrey Hills Column in Surrey Life magazine. This has now been enlarged to a whole page. We have also been invited to write the walks page for Surrey Life from the July edition. We also secured an article in Vantage magazine for February 2015.
Chris Howard and Simon Whalley have both been nominated in the Surrey Life Community Heroes Awards which has given our organization more publicity. Neil Maltby was awarded Community hero status last year.
Shows and Talks
Ken Bare continues to deliver a series of talks to various groups across the County and now even South London. The Surrey Hills trailer will have numerous outings over the summer to various fetes and shows, however we are very short of volunteers with tow bars to drive the trailer to these events. If anyone knows of anyone who might help please let me know.
Membership
Growing our membership is the main priority of the Management Team and Trustees for 2015. Our new paid co-ordinator is focussing her attention membership recruitment and streamlining the management of our events programme.
Events
The events team are just finalising a full and varied events programme for the second half 2015. Our Chairman’s Day is taking place on Wednesday 27th May and is focussing on our Surrey Hills Beverage producers in the Guildford area. If you would like to join us please let me know asap as this event always books out fast.
The SHS- 20 to30s group is continuing to run a monthly walk somewhere in the Surrey Hills. However, our main walks leader for this group has been in hospital so I have had to lead on events so far this year. Hopefully he will be back with us soon.
The AGM for 2015 has been fixed for Saturday 21st November at The Parrott at Forest Green and will include a meal of local produce.
We will also be holding our annual social dinner at the County Club Guildford, on Friday 25th September. There are also lots of interesting events happening every month. Please look at website for details and do feel free to join us.
Other Updates:
Recommendations
The AONB Board is asked to note of the report.